1. Dr.

Avinash Bhondwe
M.B.B.S.
President I.M.A. Pune (2008-09)
Post-Mortem Examination(Autopsy)
2. POST-MORTEM: DEFINITON
Post-mortem (meaning after death) may refer to:
In science:
an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death or the changes produced
by disease.
Post-mortem examination, or autopsy, an examination of a corpse in order to determine cause of
death
Postmortem studies, a neurobiological research method
3. Objectives of Autopsy :
To find out the Cause of Death
To ascertain whether death is Natural or Unnatural
Whether death is Homicidal, Suicidal or Accidental
To ascertain Time passed since death
To establish the Identity of the body
Whether still-birth or live-birth of newly born infant
4. Burns PM
PM In Action
Infant PM
5. Modes of Death
Asphyxia(Respiratory Failure)

Syncope(Circulatory Failure)
Coma(Brain Death)
Mortuary Post-Mortem
6. COMATOSE PATIENT
HOSPTAL MORTURY
Bodies outside an Autopsy Room
7. Rules of Post-Mortem
Written order from the Police Officer
Day time
Place: In the Hospital
Where the dead body lies
Identity of the deceased to be established
Three great cavities opened (Cranial, Thoracic and Abdominal)
Writing post-mortem report on the spot
8. Contents of Post-Mortem Report
Name of the deceased,
Identification
Place, date and time of post-mortem
External Examination
Internal Examination
Viscera and Samples collected for analysis
Opinion as to cause and manner of death
9. Instruments & Accessories for Autopsy

10. Instruments & Accessories for Autopsy

Scalpels, knives, scissors, bone-cutters,
Chisels, hammer,
Measuring tape,
Balance,
Glass bottles, vials
Facility for X-Ray, Photographs & Video-graphy
Chemicals as preservatives, like Formalin 40%,Rectified spirit,
Saturated solution of common salt
11. External Examination of Unknown Body for Identification
Race, Sex, Age
Tattoo marks
Teeth
Distribution of Hair
Occupational Characteristics
Body should be photographed
Finger prints taken
12. External Examination to ascertain time passed since death
Rectal Temperature
Hypostasis
Rigor Mortis
Stage of Putrefaction
Ova of flies and maggots

13. Approximate times

for algor and rigor mortis in temperate regions
14. Post mortem changes
1. ALGOR MORTIS (BODY COOLING)
2. RIGOR MORTIS
3. LIVOR MORTIS (HYPOSTASIS, POST MORTEM LIVIDITY,
POSTMORTEM SUGGILLATIONS)
4. POST MORTEM DECOMPOSITION
( PUTREFACTION)
5. ADIPOCERE
6. MUMMIFICATION
7. MACERATION
15. External Examination of Clothes
Stains of :
Blood
Mud
Saliva
Semen
Vomit
Pieces of glass,
Fibres,
hair (Preserve for chemical analysis)
Whether cuts, burns and holes correspond to injuries on the body

External Examination of Eyes

Softening of eye ball
Opacity of cornea
Opacity of lens
16. External Examination of Natural Orifices
For foreign bodies, injuries, discharges (blood/pus, froth)
Take swabs for examination
Nose
Mouth
Ears
Anus
Urethra
Vagina
17. External Examination
Presence of Teeth/Dentures
18. Childhood
Adulthood
Teeth through the years
External Examination to ascertain the age
Primary teeth sprout from milk buds and are temporary. Once they fall out, permanent teeth as
seen on the other side appear.
Permanent adult teeth come in when primary teeth fall out; they are permanent because they
establish roots inside the gums. Third molar come in around the mid teenage years.
Standard Teeth Development for Age Determination

19. Individual Characteristics

Size of tooth
20. Shape of tooth
21. Shape of root
22. Placement of tooth
23. Quantity of teeth
24. Combinations of dental work done:
25. Crowns
26. Extractions
27. Bridge
28. Fillings
29. Root canals
Various dental work
30. External Examinationof Marks
Cord,
ligature mark
Finger marks round the neck
Its exact position,
Manner
Application of the knot
31. External Examination of Hands & other parts
Hands: For hair, cloth, mud, blood or weapon grasped
Scraping from under the nails taken

Genitalia, breasts
Condition of the body:
Stout or Emaciated?
32. External Examination of Injuries
From head to foot& from front to back
Injury: Situation (Position)
Extent
Nature (Contusion, Abrasion,
Lacerated, Incised, Stabbed or Punctured)
Dimension
Condition of Edges
Course and direction of bullet
Direction of blood smear
33. External ExaminationTypes of Injuries
Contusion
Abrasion
Laceration
Incised Wound
Punctured/Stabbed wound
34. Contusion
Abrasion
Laceration
Incised wound

Incised wound
Punctured Wound
35.
36. Type of the Weapons
Hard & Blunt Objects
Sharp Objects
37.
38. External Examinationof Burns
First Degree
Second Degree
Third Degree
Cause of burns: Fire, Fluid, Corrosive, Explosive
Percentage of Burns
39. First Degree
Second Degree
Charred Body
Third Degree
40.
41.
42.
43. Internal Examinationof Head
Order of Exam:
Head-

Head: Transverse section

Skull bones for fracture
Brain :
for injury, effusion of blood,
tumour
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49. Internal Examination of Thorax
Ribs Fracture
50. Sternum fracture
Internal Examination of Thorax
Pleural Cavities- for blood, fluid
Lungs- Collapsed, Full, Water
51. Internal Examinationof Thorax
Pericardium
Heart
Chambers of Heart
Coronary Arteries
Aorta,
52. Internal Examinationof Thorax

Larynx,
Trachea,
Oesophagus
53. Internal Examination of Abdomen
Peritoneum
Abdominal Cavity
Abdominal Organs
Pelvic Cavity
54. Internal Examinationof Abdomen
Stomach
Small and Large Intestine
Liver,
Gall bladder
55. Stomach
(Contents, Smell, Degree of digestibility)
56. (Surface, Size, Weight)
57. (Examine Inner Surface)
Internal Examination of Abdomen
Pancreas
Spleen
Kidneys
For Necrosis
58. Size, Colour Weight,

59. Rupture, Calculi

Internal Examinationof Male Pelvis
Bladder
Prostate
Testes,
60. Internal Examination
Spinal
Cord
61. Internal Examination of Female Pelvis
62. Internal Examination of Female Pelvis
63. Internal Examination General
General Missing Organs: To be noted
Videography: When custodial death Suspected
Poisoning: Tissues/Samples of:- Stomach, Small & Large Intestine, Liver, Spleen, Kidney, Nail
scraping, Skin (Inj.),
Uterus, Vagina, Spinal Cord, Heart, Lung, Brain, CSF, Long Bone, Blood, Vomit, Urine, Faeces,
64. Postmortem Forensic Toxicology
Suspected drug intoxication cases
Homicides
Arson fire deaths
Motor vehicle fatalities
Deaths due to natural causes
65. Internal Examination General
Samples/Organs kept in Preservative,

Closed in a Container,
Sealed and Labeled and Locked and
To be sent to Chemical Analyser
66. Examination of Mutilated Bodiesor Fragments
Identification:
Dentures,
Fingerprints,
DNA Sampling,
Tattoo marks,
Condition of Teeth,
Deformities,
67. Examination of Mutilated Bodiesor Fragments
Circumscribed Penis
Probable Age: From Skull, Teeth, Dentures, Gums in jaws
Colour of Hair,
Ossification of bones
Sex: From Head & Trunk (Hair, pelvis, femur, prostate, ovary, uterus etc.)
68. Examination of Fragments Bones
Whether Bones are Human or not
Whether Female or Male (From Pelvis, Femur)
69. Examination of Fragments Bones
The Age of the individual (From the centres of Ossification, Osteoporosis,Osteoarthritic changes)
Metallic poisoning (Like Arsenic, Antimony)

70. Post-Mortem ReportIts Value

Not substantive piece of Evidence
Statement of the Medical Officer made in Court is substantive evidence
Medical Officer can use it for refreshing his memory while giving evidence
For Corroboration & Contradiction of Medical Officer
Reserving Opinion as to the cause of death
pending result of chemical analysis.
Negative Autopsy